Kangmang Naresh comes up with Pani Patiya

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 23: Writer and ex-British Gurkha soldier Kangmang Naresh Rai has come up with a non-fiction book on the history of British Gurkhas titled Pani Patiya. 

Pani Patiya was the process of chastening the British Gurkhas with Hindu tradition who had returned to the motherland during the Rana regime in Nepal. 

Mundhum expert Bhogiraj Chamling, leader Manushi Yami Bhattarai and critic Gurung Sushant jointly made the book public amid a function at Mandala Theatre in the capital on Monday. 

Mundhum expert Chamling said that the book informs not only about the history but also the woes of Gurkha warriors. "The book is a result of deep studies, experience and feelings of the writer who has written the 200 years history in the form of an essay," said Chamling.

According to Chamling, there are three viewpoints on British Gurkhas- Britain's viewpoint, the non-Gurkha's viewpoint and the Gurkha's viewpoint. "The writer himself is a British Gurkha warrior but this book is written from the viewpoint of non-Gurkhas," Chamling said. Leader Bhattarai said that the book has disclosed the anguish behind the narration of 'Brave Nepalis'. "We feel proud of being called brave Nepalis but it is because of Gurkha warriors for sure," she announced.

In contrast to Chamling, critic Sushant expressed that the book is written from the viewpoint of the sufferers. “Such writers may be either sufferers or observers. The first writes with the anguish of suffering while the second articulates it with the facts derived from the research. Rai himself has suffered the tyranny and the book is written from the viewpoint of the sufferers," Sushant asserted.

Sushant also said that by supplying the indigenous Janajati people as the British Gurkhas, the state had not only weakened the identity politics but also turned them into Hindus with the tradition of Pani Patiya.

Writer Rai, who is known as the man of war literature among literary figures, viewed that the book was born due to the movement of British Gurkhas. "Nepal government did not understand the sorrows of the families of those who were involved in the First and Second World War but did not return, nor was the British government informed about them," Rai said, "War literature is looking for the whereabouts of them."

The book mainly focuses on the tyranny and discrimination suffered by British Gurkhas. Moreover, the writer has questioned the Hinduisation of indigenous Janajati people and cultural imposition like Pani Patiya on them.

Published by Phoenix Books Kathmandu, the 192-page book is priced Rs. 499.

Prior to this, Rai had five books to his credit, including Anuharma Lukaieka Chot Haru (The Bruise Unseen On Face), Puppy Phool, Yuddha Bokeko Sitang, 11 November and Teplayu.